Sheet feeding



Nov. 7, 1944. L BAKER ETAL SHEET FEEDING Filed Aug. s, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 S N M 0 0.14m M\O O um 0 :\.|\O MMR W. NT4 man u 1J ,IDH` 1 E! m/. @Tin mi me M m ZAL.. 4 NQ T f 2. f5 o; of y 415mm ci mm; my. my! ,um m4 A --..--mmwwwwwmmwwmHAHMW .6m

Nov. 7, 1944. BAKER ETAL SHEET FEEDING Filed Aug. 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ha NL mm No E t INVENTORS Laonnno BAKER @comers n. MARTm BYv 3 I AUM, -vmun RTTORN EYS Nov. 7, 1944.

L. BAKER ETAL y SHEET FEEDING Filed Aug. 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS LEONARD BAKER GEoRGE A. MARTnN (Bm rhume/m ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1944 Martin, Pearl River, N. Y., `assignors to `Dexter Folder Company, Pearl River, N, Y., a corpora- `tion of New York` Application August 8, 1942, Serial No. 454,138

(Cl. 271-'3l) 21 claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a method and apparatus for the continuous feeding of sheets of material one at a time from a supply in `which the sheets ythereof are disposed in an onL-edge position, as distinguished from feeding such sheets from either the top or bottom of a pile of stacked sheets. Our improved sheet feeder is particularly adapted for feeding sheets of cardboard, ber board, woodboard,A box board and but inclined in, or toward, the direction in which they are fed.` V

In feeders of therst class, that is, those in 4 which sheets are fed from a position inclined away from the direction of feeding, it has been necessary to provide a movable or adjustable supporting means for the sheets which must be in* terrupted in its operation, that is, the supporting means must be removedor otherwise manipulated in orde;` to enable an operator toreplenish the supply of sheets being fed thereby with the result that such ori-edge feeders are not continuous in their operation. Such feeders may also be described as having an operating sequence somewhat sirnilar to the method of feeding sheets one at a time from the top of a pile of stacked sheets because it is necessary to stop the feeder when a new pile of sheets must be supplied thereto. l

In feeders of the second class, namely those in` which sheets may be continuously fed from an on-edge position inclined toward the direction of feeding, the supply of sheets is preferably required to rest upon some fixed supporting means whereby the sheet to be'fed must first bemoved from its position against said support where it reposes under the weight lof other sheets in the supply. This operation of removing a sheet disposed in such an ori-edge position is somewhat analogous to that of feeding, one at a time, the

lowermost sheet from a pile of stacked sheets, because it presents the `problem offered in such cases of handling the weight of a pile of sheets resting upon thesheet' to be fed. Moreoven'in feeders of this class there is presented the additional problem `of having to lift the sheet to be fed and at the same time bend it inorder to be able to deliver it bottom edge foremost to the forwarders.

vAn important object of our invention therefore is to provide a continuous ori-edge feeder to which sheetsA may be supplied as occasion requires and in which the sheets being fed therefrom are disposed in a position inclined away from the direction in Whichthey arev fed. i l f Another object of our invention is to provide an on-edge feeder mechanism which may be continuously loaded with or receivesupplies of sheets initially inclined in the direction in which they are fed, and in which the operation of said mechanism is such that before said sheets are delivered to the forwarders the inclination thereof is reversed and the lower edgesfof said sheets are fanned out or separated from one another to facilitate the delivery thereof.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved method of continuously feeding sheets from a supply thereof in which the sheets are initiallydisposed in said supply in an on-edge position inclined in one vdirection and while conveiling the sheets so disposed toward the point o f delivery or removal simultaneously, separating "the lower edges of said sheets one from `another and reversing the angularity of said sheets so that they may be delivered one at a time from the supply.

Further objects' and advantagesV of our 'inven- Ation include` the novel sequence of` operation taught thereby and features of construction and arrangement of elements which in combination comprise a device of the classdescribed and which objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description thereof written in connection with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a preferred form of our sheet feeding apparatus and one adapted to practice our novel method of continuously feeding sheets from an on-edge position.

`Figure 2 shows a sectional View of the feeder in Figure 1 and showing further structural de tails thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the feeder shown in `liiguresl and 2. y

`Figure 4 `is an enlarged view of the ratchet mechanism.

`Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that our feeder means comprises a base or frame i structure having side plates I supported and held spaced from one another by means of cross bars |I. The side plates I0 are shaped to form suitable legs or supports I2, preferably fastened, by means of angle sections 3, to the floor or other suitable foundation proximate the mechanism with which the feeder is to be used.

Mounted above this base structure is-what we shall call, for the want of a better name, a vertically adjustable traveling sheet supporting mechanism indicated generally,l on Figure 2, by the numeral I4. This sheet supporting mechanism I4, comprising a pair of side plates l supported and held in spaced relationship to one another by cross bars of staybolts I6, is mounted above the base Ill-I I by means of four rack bars I 1, the upper ends of which are connected in any suitable way to the side plates I5 through the medium of bosses I8 formed thereon. As shown in Figure l, each of these bosses I8 is bored out to receive the upper end of one of the rack bars I1 and is provided with set screws I9 formed to secure the same therein. It will be noted that the stay-bolts I6 are located only along the upper edges and forward ends of the plates |5 so that the space between said plates is otherwise unobstructed, for reasons which presently will become apparent. v

The lower end of each of the rack bars |1 is slidably and vertically mounted for movement in a pair of axially aligned bearings 2D-2| formed on the side plates I0, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A pair of rods 22, each provided with a pair of spaced pinionsl 23 keyed thereto, are suitably journalled in the side plates I0. so' that each of the pinions 23 is` mounted to mesh. with, operate and support a corresponding rack bar I1 and through said bars support. the sheet mechanism I4 for vertical adjustment. A sprocket 24 keyed to each of the rods 22. carries a sprocket chain which serves as the means for rotating the rods 22 and pinions 23 in unison when either of the rods are rotated.v Crank means 26,. see .Figure 3, keyed to an end of one. of the rods 22 is provided for rotating the same and` comprisesy any suitable mechanism, not shown, for holding said crank means, including the rack and pinion means, in any positionof vertical adjustment to which it is set.

It will now be understood. that our mechanism |4 is adjustably supported above the base. or frame structure by the rack and pinion meansA above described and that, by rotating the crank means 26, the said mechanism I4v may be manually raised and lowered as desired with respect to said frame structure and thereby adjust the same to receive and support sheets of dierent dimensions.

Referring still further to the supporting mechanism I4, it will be seen that proximate the forward end of each of the plates I5, and disposed, respectively, proximate the inside surfaces of said plates, are a pair of spaced sprockets 3| which are carried by and keyed to, a shaft 32 having the ends thereof suitably journalled in saidside plates I5. At the other end and on the inside of each of said side plates I5 are rotatably mounted, respectively, such as on studs 33, a pair of sprockets 34. It will be seen from the drawings that a sprocket 3| and a pair of sprockets 34 are disposed, as a group in a planer spaced from the inside surface of each side plate'|5 and support and drive respectively a pair of spaced endless conveyor chains each having a plurality of inwardly projecting notched lugs 38 secured thereto at equidistant intervals throughout the 'I6 length thereof, so that the said chains and lugs are adapted to travel in the direction of the arrows on Figure 2. Any suitable means, such as slots 31 provided for adjusting the location of the studs 33 and sprockets 34, are employed so that the chains 35 may be adjusted and held taut as shown in Figures 1 and 2,

On the inside surface of each side plate I5 is also mounted track means for sheet supports comprising a pair of horizontal parallel bars 38 disposed one above the other and having the forward ends thereof rounded as at 39. The space between the rearwardly extending ends of bars 38 is closed by a vertical bar 40. A sheet support guide 4| is mounted in spaced relation with respect to said bar 48. Track means 38, 40, 4|, such as just described, is disposed on the inside surface of each side plate I5 and located in a plane spaced from said plates a distance somewhat greater than that between the chains 35 and said side plates, as shown in Figure 3. The mounting and spacing of track means of the form here shown is effected by suitable bolts 42, see Figure 2, and spacers 43, see Figure 3. Each of the sprockets 3| is provided with deep notches 44 circumferentially spaced one from another a distance equal to the space between the lugs 36. A plurality of sheet supports 45 preferably in the form of straight bars each having their ends disposed respectively in notches 46 of corresponding lugs 36 on the spaced chains 35 are adapted to be propelled in one direction across the upper and in another direction beneath the lower bars 38 when the chains 35 are driven in the direction of the arrows, as shown inv Figure 2.

It will be understood that since. the spaced chains 35 are simultaneously and continuously driven in the direction shown by theY arrows by the sprockets 3| mounted on the common shaft 32 that the bars or sheet supports 45 resting on the track means 3B with their ends disposed in notches 45 of corresponding lugs 36, will be propelledlaterally toward the sheet support guides 4|. When each support 45 successively reaches the guides 4| the ends ofv said support will be brought to and disposed opposite the upper ends of the spaces 41 formed between the bars 40 and the guides 4| whereupon the support 45 is free to drop to the bottom thereof from the notches of the upper lugs 36 which at that time are pro- `jecting downwardly. Moreover, the corresponding lugs 36 on the spaced chains 35 are positioned so that when a pair of upper lugs have brought to and deposited in the space 41 a sheet support 45 a pair of lower lugs 36 with their notches 46 projecting upwardly will at that time be disposed in alignment with the bottom of the spaces 41 to receive the support 45 when it drops and thereafter laterally propel the same along the lower and to the upper side of the track means 38, as shown, with the aid of the sprockets 3| and the notches 44 which serve to enable' the sprockets to lift the supports 45 from the lower to the upper track when they reach the forward end of the mechanism I4.

Constructed on the base structure between the side plates I0 and below the traveling sheet supporting. mechanism I4, we provide a conveyor means indicated generally by the gure 58 in Figure 3, and upon which the lower edges of sheets to be fed are adapted* to rest in an inclined position as shown, in Figure l. It will be understoodv that our conveyor means 50, in combination with said traveling supporting mechanism I4 are adapted to convey sheets continuously. inthe direction of the arrows, shown in `Figures 2 and" 3, toward sheet forwarders to be vspeeds for conveying the sheets from the `point where they are received into the feeder to the point of delivery therefrom. l

`What may be described as the first or slow speed conveyor section of our conveyor means' 50 comprises a plurality of endless belts 5l dis- Vposed` about and extending laterally from a -roller 52 having a shaft 53 journalled in the side plates to a plurality of spaced driving pulleys 54 same rate of speed as vthe chains 35.

keyed as at 55 to a shaft 56 which is also jour? nalled in theplates I0.` It will be understood that the roller 52 andthe pulleys of this and the other conveyor sections to be hereinafter `described are preferably of the same size and diameter and positioned so that the upper surfaces of said belts are disposed in a common substantially horizontalplane assh'own in Figures l,

and 2. i

The second or intermediate speed conveyor comprises a plurality o'f endless belts 51 disposed `about loose pulleys 58 mounted on the shaft but between the pulleys 54, and a corresponding number of pulleys 59 keyed` as at 60, to a shaft 6| journalled in the side plates l0. Similarlyl a third and high speed conveyor comprisingr a plurality of endless belts 62disposed about loose pulleys 63 mounted on the shaft 6|, `but between the pulleys 59Y thereof, and a corresponding number of pulleys 64 keyed, as before described, to a shaft B5 also journalledin' the side plates |01.

The shaft 65 projects'through `one of the side plates Ill and has its end supported at 66 by means of a bracket 61 secured in any suitable way to the side plates |0,`which` bracket `also affords support to a stub shaft 68, as at 59. which .is disposed at right angles thereto and extending toward the rear of the feeder. Bevel gears 10,

keyed' respectively to theshaft65 and stub shaft 68 in meshing relation. are provided to enable the former to drive the latter as and for the `reasons to be described hereinafter.

.section 62 in the direction indicated by the aris adapted to be actuated byfmeans of a .link

15 connecting the pawl .plate 13.to.a disc 1G keyed to the end of a drive shaft 11 which is driven continuously in a clockwise direction by any suitable mechanism such `as the chain and. sprocket means 18--19 shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the shaft 11 is ya part of the conveyor mechanism 80 of the machine to` which it is desired to feed continuously, one

`having the same diameter as that of the sprocket `82 and also keyed to the shaft 6|, a chain 84 and a sprocket 85 having adiameter somewhat larger than that of the sprockets 82 and 83 and `keyed to the shaft 56. t will now be understood that the relative speed ratios of our several conveyor sections will be in proportion to the diameters of the sprockets 1|,82 andv 85 which are employed in driving them from the shaft 65. i We have found that it is desirable to run therst or low speed conveyor 5I at approximately the The sheet supporting mechanism i4 `is driven by the shaft 65 through the bevel gears 10 and means comprising a shaft 90, bevel gears 9|, connecting the shaft with a'splined telescopic shaft 92, which in turn drives the shaftf32 of the mechanism M by means `of bevel gears 93. It will be understood that the telescopic shaft 92 `makes it possible for this driving mechanism to operate the mechanism Hat any elevation at which it is set and that the diameters of the several bevel gears driving the same are such that the speed ratio between said mechanism and that of the conveyor is properly established. The shafts 99 and 92 arerotatably mounted on `*the side plates Il! and l5 in any suitable way such as by means ofbearings 94.

In combination with the conveyor means 50 we E2.; which detector comprises a plurality of levers 96 mounted to rock on a shaft 91 carried by the side plates |0,and a pawl mask 98 disposed adjacentthe ratchet 12 and keyed to the end of. a

" shaft 99 disposed parallel to the shaft 91, and

also carried by the plates I0. The levers 96 ,are

'movably connected to the shaft 99 by means of Ylinks |00, see Figure 2, pivotally connected to arms |0| keyed to the shaft 9,9. A pin |02,` see Figurey 3, projecting from the side of th'e pawl 14 is adapted toslide over the top of themask 9a as it is osciiiated back and forth bythe pawl plate 13. u, A

`Between the conveyors 50 and 80 is suitably mounted any well known form of sheet feeding mechanism comprising a feed roller |05 and drop rollers |06, adapted to cooperate therewith, so that the points of contact or lbite between said rollers are located in substantially the same plane `as that of the belts of the conveyors 50 and 80.

Suction feeding devices |01 are f provided and mounted in any suitable way for delivering sheets to-the feed rollers |05-|06, as for instance ona shaft |08 extending from one side frame |0 to the other. It will be understood that the means for operating the feed rollers |05, |06 andalso the means for operating the suction' feeding devices |01 are all `well known and, perse, formno part of our present invention. Suffice it to say, how'- ever, that when sheets have been conveyed and presented to the suction feeding devices |01 and disposed in proper position to be lifted and for"- warded thereby into the feeding mechanism |05-L-I06, that the weight of the sheets resting upon the governor 95 is sufficient `to lift the mask 98 through the medium of the links |00 and arms so that the pawl 14 cannot cooperate with the ratchet wheel 12 and the driving mechanism for the conveyor mechanism is disabled until the suction feeding devices |01 have removed the sheets from the governor, at which time it will, due to the weight of the mask 88, be raised by gravity, or any other suitable means not shown, and the p'awl mask 98 lowered whereby the ratchet and pawl mechanism will again operate to convey sheets to the feeding mechanism. This governor or detector means, therefore is controlled by the operation of said sheet forwarding means to periodically disable the means for operating both the conveyors and sheet supporting means whenever the forwarding means has before it'sheets upon which it may operate.

With particular reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be understood that in the operation of our feeder, stacks or groups of sheets are first disposed in an on-edge position resting upon the conveyor section and leaning against one of the traveling bars or sheet supports 45 which, as pointed out above, will at that time preferably be running at substantially the same speed ratio as said conveyor section.` The lower edges of the sheets so placed in the feeder will successively passfrom the conveyor 5| to conveyor 51, and finally to conveyor 62. As the conveyors 5|, 51 and 62 move toward the suction feeding devices |01 and feeding rollers |05, |05, at the forward end of our feeder, the lower supports 45 of the sheet supporting mechanism |4' also move in the same direction but at, a rate somewhat slower than that of the conveyors 51 and 62, so that when the sheets reach the forward end of our feeder the angularity thereof will be reversed and the` lower edges of the sheets will be fanned out somewhat. It will be understood that the several supports 45 are dropped into position to support successive groups or stacks of sheets inclined in either of two directions and that when the feeder has been operated sufficiently to be fully supplied as shown in Figure 1, the said groups may be identified one from another by the letters A, B, C and D. n

In the form of the device shown here it will be understood that by virtue of the variable speeds at which our several conveyor sections 5|, 51 and 62v travel forwardly the extent to which the lower edges of the sheets are fanned out will be progressively increased and become very pronounced as shown by the sheets in group D at the right hand side of the supply shown in Figure 1, and the degree of change in the angularity of the said sheets accentuated, so that when a plurality of groups of sheets, suchA as those indicated generally by the letters A, B, C and D of Figure 1, have been disposed in the machine and permitted to progress therethrough, sheets from the'pile D may 'be delivered easily, one at a time, lower edge foremost, into the bite of the feed rollers M-|06 by the suction feeding devices |01. Here it. will be understood that the sheet group D to be fed, indicated by theY letter E in Figure 1,y is re- 'fotoshoot'v therefrom due to the change in angularity thereof, and the action of fanning' out or separation of the lower edges of said sheets, until the sheets of said group D are supported at the time of de livery on the next succeeding or following support instead of the support immediately preceding said group, in order to dispose them in a favorable position to be acted upon by the sheet forwarders.

It will also be understood from our drawings and description how the variation in adjustment, or the distance between the conveyor mechanism and the supporting mechanism I4 makes it possible to vary the angularity of the sheets resty ing on the conveyor. I'he amount that the lower edges of the sheets are farmed out at the time of presentation to the forwarders is determined by the number or relative speeds of the conveyors. Moreover, when a single conveyor means is used, instead of one comprising a plurality of conveyor sections as above described, the rate of travel of said conveyor will always be greater than the rate at which the sheet supports 45 arel moved toward said forwarders.

Stops |09, carried by a bar l0, mounted in the side plates I0', are provided to prevent the sheets of group D, see Figure 1, from being moved by the conveyor too close to the suction feeding devices |01.

Having now particularly described a preferred embodiment of our invention, including our novel method for continuously feeding sheets in an onedge position, it will be understood that various modifications in the configuration, composition and disposition of the component elements which in combination constitute ourr improved apparatus, as well as modincations in the selective combination or application of the various steps of our improved method of feeding sheets, may occur to those skilled in the art, especially after being able to benefit from the teachings set forth herein. Accordingly, no unnecessary limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description of our invention made in accordance with the illustrative drawings which accompany the same.

What we claim is:

1. A sheet feeder comprising forwarding means operable upon a sheet presented thereto in an ori-edge position inclined' away therefrom; in combination with mechanism for initially receiving and supporting a sheet inr an on-edge position inclined toward said sheet forwarders and for conveying the same toward, and presenting the same to, said forwarding means; said mechanism comprising means for reversing the inclination of said sheet after the saine has been received i'n said mechanism and before being presented to said forwarding means.

2. A sheet feeder comprising sheet forwarders for removing, one at a time, sheets from a supply thereof presented thereto in an on-edg'e position inclined away therefrom; in combination with mechanism for initially receiving and supporting a supply of sheets in an oneedge position inclined toward said sheet forwarders' and for conveying the same toward, and presenting the same to, said sheet forwarders; said mechanism comprising means for reversing the inclination of said sheet supply after the same has been received in said mechanism and before it is presented to said forwarders.

3. A sheet feeder comprising sheet forwarders for removing, one at a time', sheets from a sup'- ply thereof presented thereto in an on-edge pothereof disposed in an ori-edge position comprising forwarding means adapted to remove sheets oneat a time lower edge foremost from a supply, conveyor means upon which a supply of sheetsis adapted to stand and be conveyed toward said sheet forwarding means, and sheet supporting means disposed above said conveyor means also movable toward said sheet forwarding means, but at a rate of speed less than that of said conveyor means, andagainst which sheets resting on said conveyor means are adapted to be supported in positions inclined in either of two directions, with respect to said `conveyor means, in combination with mechanisms operable at different speed ratios for simultaneously driving toward said forwarding means both said conveyor means and said sheet supporting means whereby the angle of inclination of saidsheets is reversed. l l i i 5; A device for feeding sheets from a` supply thereof disposed in an on-edge `position comprising forwarding means adapted to remove sheets one at a time lower edge foremost from a supply, conveyor means upon which a supply of sheets is `adapted to stand and be conveyed toward said sheet forwarding means, and sheet supporting means disposed above said conveyor means also movable toward saidsheet forwarding means, but at arate of `speed less thanthat of said conveyor means, and against which. sheets resting on said conveyor means areladapted to be sup# portedin positions inclinedlin either of two directions, with respect to said conveyor means, in combination with mechanisms operable at different speed ratios 'for simultaneously driving toward said forwarding meansbothsaid conveyor means and said sheet supporting means whereby the angle of inclination of-said-sheets is reversed, and means controlled by the operation of said forwarding means for periodically disabling said driving mechanisms. i

" 6.`A device forfeeding sheets from a supply thereof ldisposed inan `on-edge `position comprising forwarding means adapted` to remove sheets oneat a 'time lower edge foremost 4from a `supply, conveyor means upon which a supmeans and sheet supporting means whereby the angle of inclination of said sheets is reversed.

7. A device for feeding sheets 'from a supply thereof disposed in an ori-edge position comprising forwarding means adapted to, remove sheets one at a. time lower edge foremost from a supply, conveyor means upon which a supply of sheets is adapted to stand and be conveyed toward said sheet forwarding' means, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting bars againstwhich groups of sheets resting on said 4conveyor means are adapted to be supported in positions inclined in either of two directions with respect to said conveyor means, and means mounting said bars for movement toward said sheet f rwarding `means at a rate of speed less than that of said conveyor means, in combination with mechanism operable at different speed ratios for simultaneously moving toward said forwarding means both said conveyor means and said bars whereby the angle of inclination of said sheets is reversed.

I8. A Vdevice `for feeding sheets from a supply thereof disposed in an on-edge position comprising forwarding means adapted to' remove sheets one at a time lower edge foremost from a supply; conveyor means upon which a supply of sheets is adapted to stand and be conveyed toward said sheet forwarding means,` said conveyor means including a plurality of conveyor sections adapted ply of sheets is adapted to stand *and Vbe conn veyed toward said sheet forwarding means, sheet supporting `means disposed above 'said conveyor means also `movable toward said sheet forwarding means, "but ata rate of speediless than that of said conveyor means, and against which sheets resting on saidconveyor means are adapted to besup'ported inpositions inclinedin either" ofv two directions, with respect to said conveyor` means, and meansfor varying the distance between said conveyor meansA and sheet supportingmeans, in

combination with mechanisms.operable` at dif-` ferent speed ratios for simultaneously moving toward'said forwardin'gmeans both said conveyor to be driven atdifferent speed ratios, and means for driving said sections at different speed ratios; sheet supporting means disposed above said conveyor means also movable toward said sheet forwarding means and against which sheets resting on said conveyor meansare adapted to be supported in positions inclined in either of two directions with respect to said conveyor means, and means moving said sheet supporting means toward said forwarding means at a rate of speed not greater than that at whichany of said conveyor sections are driven,`in combination with mechanism for simultaneously operating both said conveyor means and said sheet supporting means whereby the angle .of inclination of said sheets is reversed.

9. A device for feeding sheets from a supply thereof disposed in an on-edge position comprising forwarding means adapted to remove sheets one at a time lower edge foremost from a supply; conveyor means upon which a supply of sheets is adapted to stand and be conveyed toward said sheet forwarding means, said conveyor means including a. plurality of conveyor sections adapted to be driven at different speed ratios, and means for driving said sections at different speed ratios; sheet supporting means disposed above said conveyor means also movable toward said sheet forwarding means and against which sheets resting on said conveyor means are adapted to be supported in positions inclinedin either of two directions with respect to said conveyor means, and means moving saidI sheet supporting means toward said forwarding means at a rate of speed not greater thanthat at which any of said conveyor sections are driven, in combination with mechanism for simultaneously operating both said conveyor means and said sheet supporting means whereby the angle of inclination of said sheets is reversed, and means controlled by the operation of said forwarding means for periodically disabling said operating mechanism.

10. A device for feedingsheets from a supply thereof disposed in an on-edge position comprising.` a pluralityfof spaced` sheet supporting bar means, Sheet ,forwarding Ineens, eOnYeYQl Ineens adapted. to. support siones of lsheets in ori-erige position with each said group leaning toward said forwarding ineens and .against e hreeeeiihe her means, and mechanism for successively disposing eeen Sad bal' Ineens efbQVe Said CQnVeYQl Ineensl in sheet supporting position and thereafter convering toward seid sheet forwarding ineens. each said bar means in spaced relationship to one another along a. Plne Parallel te Sad eQnVeyQT ineens, ih eornhihetion with ineens for driving said conveyor means toward said sheet forwarding means eend ,Ineens for .snnlntfneenely 99,911* etihs lme aforesaid .ineehonisih at e rete of speed less than that et whieh seid .Conveyor .is driven; whereby seid. groups of sheets are shootssively tensed to shift their Position .from that oi leaning against 3f preceding be? lnens. 129 linen Q thereafter lee'hine eeeinst en immediately slieceeding bar means.

11- A devise ilo'r feeding sheets ,troni siihhir thereof disposed in an onledge position oornpri/sing a plurality of spaced sheet supporting bar means, sheet forwarding means, conveyor means adapted to support groups' of sheetsv in an onfedge position with each saidlgroup leaning vtoward said forwarding means andagainst a preceding bar means, mechanism for successively'disposing eacn said bar means above said conveyor means sheet supporting position and thereafter conveying toward said sheet forwarding'means each said bar means in spaced relationship to one another along a plane parallel to said conveyor means, means for driving said conveyor means toward said sheet forwardingy means, and means for simultaneously operating the aforesaid mechanism at a rate of speed less than that at which said conveyor means is driven whereby said groups of sheets are successively caused to shift their position from that of leaning against a preceding bar means to that of thereafter leaning against an immediately succeeding bar means,'in combination with means controlled by the operation of said forwarding means for simultaneously dis.- abling both the conveyor driving means and mechanism for operating said bar means.

12. A device for feeding sheets from a supply thereof disposed in an on-edge position cirnprising a plurality of spaced sheet supporting bar means, sheet forwarding means,y conveyor means adapted to support groups of sheets in an in-edge position with each said group leaning toward said forwarding means and against a preceding bar means, and mechanism for periodically dropping said bar means one at a time into group separat-v ing position above said conveyor means and thereafter conveying toward said sheet iorwardQy ing means each said bar means in spacedv relationship with one another along a plane parallel to said conveyor means, in combination with means for driving said conveyor means toward said sheet forwarding means, and means for simultaneously operating said dropping and conveying mechanism at a rate of speed less than that at which said conveyor meansy is driven, whereby said groups of sheets are successively caused to shift their position from that of leaning against a preceding bar means to that of there#-l after leaning against an immediately succeeding bar means.

13. A device for feeding sheets from a supply thereof disposed in an on-edge position compris# ing a plurality of spaced sheet supporting -bar means, sheet forwarding means; conveyor means adapted to support groups of sheets in an on-edge position with each said group leaning toward said forwarding means and against a preceding barl means, said conveyor means comprising a plu.- rality of conveyor sections adapted to be driven at different speed ratios, and means for driving said conveyor sections at different speed ratios; and mechanism for periodically dropping said bar means one at a time into group separating position above said conveyor means and thereafter conveying toward said sheet forwarding means each said bar means in spaced relationship to one another along a plane parallel to said conveyor means, in combination with means for driving said conveyor means toward said sheet forwarding means, and means for simultaneously operating said dropping and conveying mechanism at a rate of speed less than that at which said conveyor means is driven whereby said groups are successively caused to shift their position from that of leaning against a preceding bar means to that of thereafter leaning against an immediately succeeding bar means.

14'. The method of continuously presenting sheets for removal one at a time from a supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an on-edge position comprising the steps of ini. tially placing the sheets of said supply in an onedge position inclined in the direction in which they are to be removed with their upper edges foremost, and simultaneously conveying said supT ply of sheets bodily toward a point of removal and in the direction in which they are to be removed, and rotating the same to reverse the inf clination thereof whereby the said sheets are finally inclined in a direction away from the di: rection in which they are to be removed and presented for removal, one at a time, with their lower edges foremost.

15. The method of continuously positioning sheets for removal one at a time from a supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an on-edge position comprising the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an on-edge position vinclined in the direction in v which they are to be removed with their upper edges foremost, and while rotating said sheets to reverse the inclination thereof, conveying the same bodily in the direction in which they are to be removed toward a point of removal, whereby the said sheetsr are finally inclined in a direc tion away from the direction in which they are toV be removed and presented for removal with their lower edges foremost.

16. The method of continuously positioning sheets for removal one at a time. from a supply thereof in Whioh. the seid. sheets are disposed in an `ori-edge position comprising the steps of mi? tially placing the ,sheets of seid supply in an or1,. edge position inclined in the direction which they are to he removed and with. their ripper edges foremost., and While rotating said sheets `about a horizontal axis located 4bvetnive-njl their upper and lower edges to reverse the inclination thereof, conveying the same bodily in the direction in which they are to be removed toward s, point of removal, whereby the said sheets are finally inclined in a direction away from the; direction in which they are to be removed and presented for removal with their lower edges foremost. A

17. Theinethod of continuously feeding sheets for removal one at a time from aA supplyfthereoi in Whioh the said sheets erre disposed in. en onf edge position comprising the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an on-edgc position inclined in the direction in which they are to be fed with their upper edges foremost,.

and simultaneously conveying said supply of sheets bodily in the direction in which they are to be fed toward a point of removal, and rotating the same to reverse the inclination thereof whereby the said sheets are nally inclined in a direction away from the direction in which they are to be fed and presented for removal, one at a time from said supply, with their lower edges foremost.

18. The method of continuously feeding sheets for removal one at a time from a supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an onedge position comprising the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an on-edge position inclined in the direction in which they are to be removed and with their upper edges foremost, and while rotating said sheets to reverse the inclination thereof, conveying the same bodily in the direction in which they are to be removed toward a point of removal, whereby the said sheets are finally inclined in a direction away from the direction in which they are to be removed and presented for removal with their lower edges foremost, thereafter seizing the sheets of said supply so presented, one at a time, and successively feeding the same Atherefrom lower edge foremost.

19. The method of continuously feeding sheets for removal one at a time from a, supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an onedge position comprising `the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an on-edge position inclinedin the direction in which they are t0 be removed and with their upper edges foremost, and while rotating said sheets about an axis located between their upper and lower edges to reverse the inclination thereof, conveying the same bodily in the direction in which they are to be removed toward a point of removal, whereby the said sheets are nally inclined in a direction away from the direction in which they are to be removed and presented for removal with their lower edges foremost, and thereafter seizing the sheets of said supply so presented, one at-a time, and successively feeding the same therefrom lower edge foremost.

20. The method of continuously presenting sheets for removal one at a time from a supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an on-edge position comprising the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an on-edge position inclined in the direction in which they are to be removed with their upper edges foremost, and simultaneously conveying said supply of sheets bodily toward a point of removal and in the direction in which they are to be removed, rotating the same to reverse the inclination thereof, and progressively fanning out the lower edges of the sheets in said supply whereby the said sheets are finally inclined in a direction away from the direction in which theyare to be removed and presented for removal, one at a time, with their lower edges foremost.

21. The method of continuously positioning sheets for removal one at a time from a supply thereof in which the said sheets are disposed in an on-edge positioncomprising the steps of initially placing the sheets of said supply in an onedge position inclined in the direction in which they are to Ybe removed with their upper edges foremost, and while rotating said sheets to reverse the inclination thereof, conveying the same in the direction in which they are to be removed toward a point of removal, and progressively fanning out the lower edges of said sheet supply, whereby the said sheets are finally inclined in a direction away from the direction in which they are to be removed and presented for removal with their lower edges foremost and separated one from another.

LEONARD BAKER.

GEORGE A. MARTIN. 

